Modular jack strip assembly

ABSTRACT

A modular jack strip assembly suitable for telephonic and similar applications including means for removably maintaining label indicia of each jack opening in each of a plurality of jack strip elements. Each jack strip element is provided with grooves forming means cooperating with corresponding forming means on a juxtaposed jack strip element to retain an indicia-bearing card or strip therebetween, the strip being insertable from either end of the juxtaposed jack strip elements.

United States Patent De Luca et al.

Oct. 7, 1975 MODULAR JACK STRIP ASSEMBLY Porta Systems Corporation,Syosset, N.Y.

Filed: Apr. 15, 1974 Appl. No.: 460,696

Assignee:

US. Cl. 179/97; 179/91 R Primary ExaminerKathleen H. Claffy AssistantExaminer-C. T. Bartz Attorney, Agent, or FirmTemko & Temko [57] ABSTRACTA modular jack strip assembly suitable for telephonic and similarapplications including means for removably maintaining label indicia ofeach jack opening in each of a plurality of jack strip elements. Eachjack strip element is provided with grooves forming means 52 E H04M 5/02cooperating with corresponding forming means on a [58] Field 61 Search179/97, 91 A 91 R, 93, juxtaposed J Strip element to retain indicia-179/95 75, 6] 65, 68, 57 bearing card or strip therebetween, the stripbeing insertable from either end of the juxtaposed jack strip [56]References Cited elements- UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures 1,930,275 l0/l933 Knowlton et al. 179/91 1 MODULAR JACK STRIPASSEIVIBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generallyto the field of telephone switching, and more particularly to modularjack strip assemblies of known type which comprise a plurality ofjuxtaposed jack strip elements mounted on a frame in parallel fashionfor maximum space utilization with close spacing of individual jackopenings. Owing to the relatively small size of such jack openings,individual labeling or other identification at points immediatelyadjacent the jack opening is often difficult, and, in some cases,impossible. It is known in the art to provide indicia at the end of arow of jack openings, which information can be interpolated forapplication to an individual jack opening, but such expedience are onlypartially satisfactory, and have not been widely used- BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention contemplates theprovision of a plurality of jack strip elements of known type having anexposed surface surrounding the jack ,entry openings, the surfacesupporting a groove forming member in parallel relation thereon, thegroove forming member defining a pair of oppositely facing grooves whichare spaced from the transversely extending edges of the exposed surfaceto cooperate with similar grooves on adjacent jack strip elements toform a channel into which an indicia bearing strip may be inserted insuch manner that when in fully seated position the proper indicia isadjacent the respective jack opening for immediate identification.Should the connection to the jack be changed, it is necessary only tocorrect the individual indicia associated with that jack opening, whichcorrection may be facilitated by a temporary removal of the indiciabearing strip. By providing end edge grooves which are continuations ofthe transversely extending grooves, additional indicia relating to anentire jack strip element may also be accommodated. For identificationof the jack openings in the last of a series of jack strips, anauxilliary groove forming member is provided to form a final channelindependently of another jack strip element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, to which reference willbe made in the specification, similar reference characters have beenemployed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end elevational view of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof, partly insection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT In accordance with theinvention, the device, generally indicated by reference character is anassembly comprising a supporting frame element 11, a plurality of jackstrip elements 12, a plurality of indicia cards or strips 13, and aterminal strip member 14.

The supporting frame element 11 is of conventional type, including firstand second angular frame elements 16 and 17, respectively, eachincluding a forward flange l8 defining orifices 19 for the mounting ofjack strip elements 12 in juxtaposed parallel relation by means ofscrews 20.

The jack strip elements 12 are substantially similar, each including amolded plastic housing 22 defining an exposed forward wall 23, and aplurality of longitudinally extending walls 24 supporting plug engagingstructure (not shown) of well known type. The forward wall 23 includesan inner surface 27 and an outer surface 28 penetrated by plug engagingbores 29 provided with metallic sleeve linings 30. Laterally extendingportions 31 and 32 provide mounting holes 33 engaged by the screw means20 to fix a plurality of strip elements in the juxtaposed relation shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, in which position corresponding abutting surfaces 35and 36 position the jack strip elements in spaced relation correspondingto the orifices 19 in the frame element 11.

Projecting outwardly from the outer surface 28 on each of the jack stripelements 12 is a groove forming member 38 of generally rectangularconfiguration, and bounded by longitudinal edges 39 and 40 as well asend edges 41 and 42. Inwardly of the outer surface 44 of the grooveforming member 38 is a continuous groove 43 best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The indicia cards 13 may be of paper stock or synthetic resinousmaterial, and are bounded by first and second end edges 46 and 47, firstand second longitudinal edges 48 and 49 and first and second surfaces 50and 51. Suitable indicia 52 are disposed on at least one of the surfaces50-51 such that when the cards 13 are positioned within a channel formedby opposed portions of grooves 43 on two adjacent strip elements 12, theindicia will be disposed opposite a respective jack opening or bore 29.

The terminal strip member 14 may be conveniently formed as a metallicstamping, and is useful for the positioning of an indicia bearing stripat either end of a line of jack strip elements where there is no groovepresent to support one edge of the card. It is of a length correspondingto that of the groove forming member 38, and includes a planar portion54 which can be suitably attached to a surface 53 of a jack stripelement by drive screws, the portion 54 supporting a curved flange 55defining a groove 56, the groove 56 cooperating with a portion of agroove 43 on the mounting jack strip element to provide a channelaccommodating a card 13.

From a consideration of FIG. 3, it will be observed that the groove 43also provides portions 60 disposed at right angles to those supportingthe indicia cards 13. Where a plurality of devices 10 are assembled incoplanar relation, it is possible to utilize the groove portion 60 tosupport larger indicia cards having a principal axis disposed at rightangles to those of the cards 13 for additional identification purposes.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed is:

1. In a modular jack strip assembly of a type including a plurality ofjuxtaposed jack strip elements carried by a supporting frame element,each of said jack strip elements including a plurality of jack openingspositioned in an exposed wall thereof along a single transverselyextending axis, improved means for supporting an identifying indicia foreach opening comprising: an elongated groove-forming member extendingoutwardly from said wall on each of said jack strip elements, and havinga principal axis parallel to said transversely extending axis. saidgroove-forming member at least partially surrounding at least one ofsaid jack openings and defining an elongated groove parallel to saidprincipal axis along at least one edge thereof; said jack strip elementsbeing so assembled upon said frame element that an elongaged groove onone of said jack strip elements is disposed opposite a correspondingelongated groove on another of said jack strip elements to define achannel therebetween, and an elongated indicia-bearing strip memberslidably insertable into said channel between said grooves to positionpredetermined indicia thereon adjacent said at least partiallysurrounded jack opening to identify the same.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said groove-formingmember completely surrounds at least 4. Structure in accordance withclaim 3, including an auxilliary terminal strip member mounted upon asurface of one of said jack strip elements and defining a grooveopposing in spaced relation one of the grooves defined by thegrooveforming member of said one of said jack strip elements.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which said groove-formingmember is of rectangular configuration, and defines a continuous groovehaving four rectilinear sides.

1. In a modular jack strip assembly of a type including a plurality ofjuxtaposed jack strip elements carried by a supporting frame element,each of said jack strip elements including a plurality of jack openingspositioned in an exposed wall thereof along a single transverselyextending axis, improved means for supporting an identifying indicia foreach opening comprising: an elongated groove-forming member extendingoutwardly from said wall on each of said jack strip elements, and havinga principal axis parallel to said transversely extending axis, saidgroove-forming member at least partially surrounding at least one ofsaid jack openings and defining an elongated groove parallel to saidprincipal axis along at least one edge thereof; said jack strip elementsbeing so assembled upon said frame element that an elongaged groove onone of said jack strip Elements is disposed opposite a correspondingelongated groove on another of said jack strip elements to define achannel therebetween, and an elongated indicia-bearing strip memberslidably insertable into said channel between said grooves to positionpredetermined indicia thereon adjacent said at least partiallysurrounded jack opening to identify the same.
 2. Structure in accordancewith claim 1, in which said groove-forming member completely surroundsat least one of said jack openings to form a pair of parallel oppositelyfacing grooves defining parts of two parallel indicia strip-retainingchannels on either side of a single jack strip element.
 3. Structure inaccordance with claim 2, in which said groove-forming member extendssubstantially the width of said jack strip element along saidtransversely-extending axis.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 3,including an auxilliary terminal strip member mounted upon a surface ofone of said jack strip elements and defining a groove opposing in spacedrelation one of the grooves defined by the grooveforming member of saidone of said jack strip elements.
 5. Structure in accordance with claim2, in which said groove-forming member is of rectangular configuration,and defines a continuous groove having four rectilinear sides.